Carbon Monoxide!?

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Weird The smoke alarm went off, not incredibly odd when I am using the fireplace, but it wasn't the smoke detector. It was the CO alarm. I was totally surprised. It had never gone off as long as I have had one, over many many years. Yep, after resetting it a few times. It was getting a reading over 200 ppm CO. When I took it downstairs I got a reading near 300 ppm. I started getting light headed at this point. After thinking maybe the furnace heat exchanger failed and puzzling around a bit I figured oout what happened. As part of the huge winter storm that recently covered almost half of the US, we lost our electricity. So, being well prepared I rolled out the generator and started doing what I normally do. The generator (although it was completely outside) was creating CO to get in the house. Using the fireplace (and possibly other leaks) the whole house created a vacuum around the seal of the basement garage door. After the CO got into the house the forced air heating eff...
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I have been traveling. This past week I was in Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota. It snowed. I realized the last time I saw snow was in Finland last winter. It wasn't in NY. Winter is fine and even snow is ok, but I am remembering that early snow in Winter (or late in Fall). It is a bit depressing and certainly the last snow in April will not become a holiday anytime soon.

Some of my ducks are back. I am again working on them to be less fearful with bribes of food, it seems to work.

I bought a new car. I ended up getting a Nissan Leaf. It is all electric, no engine, none of that hybrid stuff. It is a near zero maintenance car (Nissan says zero maintenance). It doesn't even have any belts. It has a very simple single ratio transmission, a battery and a motor. It is fun and has almost no noise. It is like driving in the future. My plan is to "plug in" everywhere except for home. I have a keen look out for electric outlets in parking lots everywhere. There are growing numbers of Level 2 (240 VAC) chargers appearing which have a much quicker charge time.

I haven't settled on the terms of my totaled car with USAA insurance (the guy who hit me, his insurance company). I knew it as soon as he hit me I was going to get screwed despite the accident being 100% his fault. Despite knowing that, I am offended by the "replacement value" offered. I took all of the cars like mine on craigslist and the average is considerably more than what USAA offers. So I am auguring with them. What about my procurement costs? What about items I added to the car? These practices by the insurance companies are undoubtedly unethical and should be illegal. I would be much more relaxed with what they do it they didnt hold my wrecked car ransom. They sell the parts. Not ok. I should be able to watch them destroy the engine for example, just like they did with the Obama's "Cash for Clunkers" program. These practices are what make people hate insurance companies. I wont get everything I am looking for since this a cartel of (should be) illegal activities with insurance companies. They make the laws through lobbying. Insurance is truly gambling. I am grateful neither of us was hurt.

The huge smoke cloud at the airport got my attention. I still don't know what is was.


Comments

David said…
What's your opinion on Tesla Motors? Now that their Supercharger network is steadily growing, it seems like a much better (although way more costly) alternative than any other (so called) EVs; and pluging in at a Supercharger is free for life. Here a link to the current Supercharger network as well as their plans for opening new ones: http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger
6:16 AM
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Carbon Monoxide!?

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Image
Weird The smoke alarm went off, not incredibly odd when I am using the fireplace, but it wasn't the smoke detector. It was the CO alarm. I was totally surprised. It had never gone off as long as I have had one, over many many years. Yep, after resetting it a few times. It was getting a reading over 200 ppm CO. When I took it downstairs I got a reading near 300 ppm. I started getting light headed at this point. After thinking maybe the furnace heat exchanger failed and puzzling around a bit I figured oout what happened. As part of the huge winter storm that recently covered almost half of the US, we lost our electricity. So, being well prepared I rolled out the generator and started doing what I normally do. The generator (although it was completely outside) was creating CO to get in the house. Using the fireplace (and possibly other leaks) the whole house created a vacuum around the seal of the basement garage door. After the CO got into the house the forced air heating eff...
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